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Mauritius🇲🇺 | beachesBlue BayMarine park coral, glass-bottom boats, Mahébourg side, shallow turquoise bay | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Blue Bay
🌟 Highlightbeach ranked #6
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Glass-bottom boats line up along the sand near the public beach, and their skippers will quote a price before you've finished locking your bike. That's the main fact to know about Blue Bay beach, a calm, shallow bay on the southeast coast of Mauritius, close to Mahébourg and the airport. The water is clear and turquoise, the sand is pale, and casuarina trees give shade for a picnic. Weekends and school holidays fill the public beach with local families, and boat trips are pricey if you don't haggle. Nearby budget food means snack stalls and small takeaways rather than restaurants. Swimming is easy, there's almost no surf, and snorkeling is good. Go early on a weekday, and bring your own mask. The marine park's coral gardens sit just offshore, within easy reach.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #6 beach in MauritiusReasons people choose to visit here

Blue Bay beach earns its stop because of the Blue Bay Marine Park, a protected area where you can snorkel over coral gardens with no big swell to fight. Most of the southeast has rough, reef-battered water, so a calm, shallow lagoon is rare and welcome. The second pull is the glass-bottom boat trips to Île aux Aigrettes and nearby islets, which you can arrange directly on the sand, and which suit anyone who doesn't want to swim far. The third is simple geography. Blue Bay sits a short ride from Mahébourg's market and the airport, so it works as a soft landing after a long flight or a last swim before leaving. You won't find a loud party scene here. Evenings are quiet, with locals picnicking and a few bars nearby. If you want clear water, easy snorkeling and a beach that doesn't demand much planning, this is the place.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Blue Bay

  1. Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling. The protected reserve just off the beach holds hard and soft coral, parrotfish and angelfish in shallow water. Calm conditions make it good for beginners, and it's best on weekday mornings when visibility is sharper.
  2. Glass-bottom boat trip. Skippers on the beach run short outings over the coral and to nearby islets. You see the reef without getting wet, which is ideal for kids or nervous swimmers. Haggle, and compare a couple of quotes.
  3. Swimming at the public beach. The water is shallow, clear and gentle, with a sandy bottom close to shore. Casuarina trees give shade, and local families fill the sand on weekends, which makes for a friendly atmosphere.
  4. Île aux Aigrettes visit. This small island nature reserve lies a short boat ride away. Guides lead walks among
… read more 👉
  1. Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling. The protected reserve just off the beach holds hard and soft coral, parrotfish and angelfish in shallow water. Calm conditions make it good for beginners, and it's best on weekday mornings when visibility is sharper.
  2. Glass-bottom boat trip. Skippers on the beach run short outings over the coral and to nearby islets. You see the reef without getting wet, which is ideal for kids or nervous swimmers. Haggle, and compare a couple of quotes.
  3. Swimming at the public beach. The water is shallow, clear and gentle, with a sandy bottom close to shore. Casuarina trees give shade, and local families fill the sand on weekends, which makes for a friendly atmosphere.
  4. Île aux Aigrettes visit. This small island nature reserve lies a short boat ride away. Guides lead walks among rare endemic plants, giant tortoises and pink pigeons. It's a rare chance to see what the island's native forest once looked like.
  5. Sunset picnic under the casuarinas. Evenings are quiet, and locals bring food to eat on the sand while the light softens over the bay. Bring snacks from nearby stalls, a sarong and a bit of patience for the mosquitoes.
Blue Bay beach itself needs no ticket, but the boat trips and the Île aux Aigrettes visit are best booked ahead, since the reserve limits numbers and tours often fill on busy days.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Blue Bay

Full Day Tour 5 Island to Ile Aux Cerfs Incl. Lunch and Transfer

Full Day Tour 5 Island to Ile Aux Cerfs Incl. Lunch and Transfer

4.2(213)
From €130
per personViator
Mauritius South Tour Including Blue Bay Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkelling

Mauritius South Tour Including Blue Bay Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkelling

4.3(10) 8h
From €99
per personViator
The Exotic East: Ile aux Aigrettes & Blue Bay marine park & Lunch

The Exotic East: Ile aux Aigrettes & Blue Bay marine park & Lunch

3.7(11) 8h 30m
From €121
per personViator
Exploration dives

Exploration dives

4.1(7) 2h
From €87
per personViator
East Adventure with Blue Bay Marine Park, Crocodile Park & Lunch

East Adventure with Blue Bay Marine Park, Crocodile Park & Lunch

3.8(8)
From €127
per personViator
Padi Open Water Diver Course

Padi Open Water Diver Course

5.0(3) 72h
From €684
per personViator
The Best of East: Full-Day All-Inclusive Tour with 3 Park Visits

The Best of East: Full-Day All-Inclusive Tour with 3 Park Visits

3.5(6)
From €139
per personViator
Snorkel, Explore & Discover: The East with blue bay marine park

Snorkel, Explore & Discover: The East with blue bay marine park

3.8(5)
From €101
per personViator
Eastern Treasures of Mauritius: incl Rhumerie St Aubin & Blue-Bay Marine Park

Eastern Treasures of Mauritius: incl Rhumerie St Aubin & Blue-Bay Marine Park

4.3(3)
From €117
per personViator
The East Discovery Tour: Bois-Cheri Tea Factory, Blue-Bay Marine Park & Lunch

The East Discovery Tour: Bois-Cheri Tea Factory, Blue-Bay Marine Park & Lunch

4.0(3)
From €117
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Cool, dry season (May to November): Days run 24 to 27°C (75 to 81°F) with a steady southeast breeze and little rain, and the water stays clear for snorkeling. Nights dip to around 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F), so a light layer helps. Daylight lasts about 11 to 12 hours.
  • Hot, humid season (December to April): Expect 29 to 33°C (84 to 91°F), strong sun and afternoon downpours. Cyclone risk peaks from January to March, and visibility can drop after heavy rain. Daylight stretches to around 13 hours.
  • Peak crowds and prices: December to January and the European summer holidays in July and August fill the beach and push guesthouse rates up by 20 to 40 percent. Weekends bring local families to the sand.
  • Quiet months: May, June, September and October offer the best balance of calm seas, mild heat and lower
… read more 👉
  • Cool, dry season (May to November): Days run 24 to 27°C (75 to 81°F) with a steady southeast breeze and little rain, and the water stays clear for snorkeling. Nights dip to around 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F), so a light layer helps. Daylight lasts about 11 to 12 hours.
  • Hot, humid season (December to April): Expect 29 to 33°C (84 to 91°F), strong sun and afternoon downpours. Cyclone risk peaks from January to March, and visibility can drop after heavy rain. Daylight stretches to around 13 hours.
  • Peak crowds and prices: December to January and the European summer holidays in July and August fill the beach and push guesthouse rates up by 20 to 40 percent. Weekends bring local families to the sand.
  • Quiet months: May, June, September and October offer the best balance of calm seas, mild heat and lower prices, with boat trips running smoothly.
Go on a weekday before 10 a.m. for the calmest, clearest water and the fewest people.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Mauritius

The best base for backpackers is the village of Blue Bay itself, a short walk from the beach, with Mahébourg about 20 minutes away by bus as a cheaper and more local alternative. Blue Bay has a handful of small guesthouses and self-catering apartments on the quiet streets behind the coastal road. Expect US$30 to 60 a night for a simple room, and kitchens let you split costs with other travelers. The scene is calm rather than rowdy, so you will meet people on the glass-bottom boat and snorkeling trips rather than at a party hostel.

Mahébourg suits solo travelers on a tight budget. Rooms and apartments … read more 👉
The best base for backpackers is the village of Blue Bay itself, a short walk from the beach, with Mahébourg about 20 minutes away by bus as a cheaper and more local alternative. Blue Bay has a handful of small guesthouses and self-catering apartments on the quiet streets behind the coastal road. Expect US$30 to 60 a night for a simple room, and kitchens let you split costs with other travelers. The scene is calm rather than rowdy, so you will meet people on the glass-bottom boat and snorkeling trips rather than at a party hostel.

Mahébourg suits solo travelers on a tight budget. Rooms and apartments cost roughly US$20 to 45, the Monday market is a short walk away, and buses run frequently to the beach, Curepipe and the airport, which sits only 10 to 15 minutes from town. Street food and small restaurants are cheap and plentiful.

Pointe d’Esny, just north along the lagoon, has quieter guesthouses and a lovely stretch of sand. It is pricier and slower, with fewer shops, so it fits travelers who want peace over nightlife. Book ahead in December and July to August.
Best hostels in Mauritius


Best quality hotels in Mauritius

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Blue Bay is one of the calmer, safer beaches on Mauritius, because a coral reef shelters the lagoon from open-ocean swell. Water is shallow and gentle, so swimming is easy for most people. Currents pick up near the channel gaps in the reef and around the boat lanes, so stay inside the swimming areas and keep clear of moving boats. Reef coral and sea urchins sit close to shore in places, and cuts take time to heal in warm water, so wear reef shoes when snorkeling. Do not stand on coral, which is also protected in the Blue Bay Marine Park. Sun is intense year-round, particularly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so bring reef-safe sunscreen and a shirt. Afternoons are often breezy. Petty theft from unattended bags happens occasionally, so keep valuables with you or leave them at your lodging. Locals swim near the public beach, which is a good guide.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Blue Bay beach lies about 10 to 15 minutes by car from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, and a taxi costs roughly US$15 to 25. From Mahébourg, buses toward Blue Bay take about 15 to 20 minutes for under US$1, and from Port Louis you can change at Rose Belle or Mahébourg for a journey of around 1.5 to 2 hours. Renting a car costs about US$30 to 45 a day.
Blue Bay beach is excellent for swimming and snorkeling, and poor for surfing. The reef-protected lagoon has calm, clear, shallow water, and the Blue Bay Marine Park has coral and many reef fish, with glass-bottom boat trips costing around US$20 to 35 per person. There is no surf here, since waves break out on the reef, so surfers head to places like Tamarin or Le Morne instead.
Blue Bay beach is free to enter, as all beaches in Mauritius are public. You pay only for extras, such as glass-bottom boat or snorkeling tours to Ile aux Aigrettes or the marine park at roughly US$20 to 35, and sunbed or snorkel gear rental at around US$5 to 10. Parking near the public beach is generally free, and weekends fill up with local families, so arrive before 10 a.m.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Mauritian beaches near Blue Bay

Explore more nearby:

  • Pointe d’Esny—Mangrove lagoon, Ramsar wetland, Aigrettes views, kayak launch| 2 km away
  • Gris Gris—Basalt cliffs, La Roche qui Pleure, sea arch, no swimming| 21 km away
  • Saint Félix—Dark golden sand, no hotel strip, Sunday card games, patchy currents| 27 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Blue Bay beach deserves a full day, or two if you love snorkeling and want to pair a calm morning swim with an afternoon boat trip. Go on a weekday, bring your own mask and fins, and skip the weekend crowds. I'd stay nearby in Mahébourg rather than rush through between flights.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Mauritius. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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